ISSN:0814-0626 © Australian Association for Environmental Education Caring for the Environment: Challenges from Notions of Caring

In a previous issue of this journal, John Fien (2003) argued for an environmental education that broadens its theoretical framework beyond sociological and educational theory “to draw on the humanities, the arts, philosophy and ethics to learn how to care for, and yes, love, each other and the Earth ” (p. 2). In developing his position, Fien referred to the writings of philosopher Nel Noddings (1984; 1992) among others, and especially to her work on caring. He notes that Noddings ’ conception of caring has three requirements – conceptual and emotive understanding, deep respect and intrinsic worth of others, and a willingness to act for the other – and equates this to what Stan van Hooft terms “deep caring ” (1995). From this brief descriptive framework, Fien moved to consider the moral obligations of humankind to care deeply about all aspects of nature and the values that might constitute an ethic of deep caring. He did not pursue, in any detail, the generative possibilities and educational implications of Noddings’ components for an environmental education underpinned by an ethic of care. In this article, I will examine the underlying structure of Noddings ’ philosophy of caring, including the components noted above, and explore the implications fo